“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)
What an absolutely beautiful promise from our Father!
When my oldest son was just a few years old, my family and I went to Lake Havasu for a boating trip. As we stopped in some coves while riding the boat, I took my son Abel into the water to swim with me. He had always been pretty hesitant when it came to water. After I put on my life jacket, I grabbed a floating swim noodle. Then, I picked up my cautious son (in his life jacket) and gently got into the lake. Abel safely floated in my arms with his head high above the water.
Abel wanted to return to the boat’s safety almost immediately after we entered the water. As we floated farther away, I looked into my anxious son’s eyes; I assured him there was nothing to fear. I told him, “Son, everything is going to be okay. You are safe. Your daddy is holding you and will not let anything bad happen to you.”
Trust Your Father
Abel soon calmed down and began to enjoy the experience. He was in the refreshing lake with his daddy on a hot day. We laughed together and splashed in the water. Abel even started to yell back for his mommy and friends to watch him. It was definitely a joy to see my son trust me for his safety and enjoyment.
As that scenario unfolded, I thought about how my relationship with my Father could be like this. In general, I can squirm in fear when God asks me to trust Him. Likewise, I don’t want to take the plunge of faith into the unknown waters of life. All the while, He has buckled me into a life jacket of salvation. Furthermore, He holds me firmly in His loving embrace.
May we always learn to trust our “Daddy” even more. We must not forget the promise that He will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Taking the plunge,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor